Burial vault



June 13; 1939. E. HOPKINS 2,

' BURIAL VAULT Filed Aug. 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Z2129 fi oakin s and My am? A itorneys June 13; 1939. E. HOPKINS BURIAL VAULTFiled Aug. 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w e i I, Q 7 Inve ntor E e; l e A 5K Q 132.4

AiiomeyE Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFHCE,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in burial vaults for use moreparticularly in graves.

The invention is designed with the particular purpose in View ofproviding a durable vault which may be economically manufactured andwhich is especially designed for stacking one on top of another and forhermeticallysealing under pressure.

My invention also comprehends other objects more or less subordinate innature, and which,

together with the precise character of my improvements will becomereadily apparent when the succeeding description and claim are read withreference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of thisspecification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the vault of my invention in crosssection arranged in stacked relation in a grave,

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the vault,

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in transverse section illustrating amodification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the vault of my invention is ofthe usual rectangular shape and comprises a bottom I, sidewalls 2, endwalls 3, and a closure lid 4. Preferably the vault is constructed ofconcrete, reinforced as indicated at 5. Short legs 6 are provided at thecorners of the vault for supporting the same. The under side of thebottom I, between the legs 6, is arched upwardly, or concaved, as at l,and the upper, or outer, side of the lid 4 is correspondingly archedinto convex formation as indicated at 8 to interfit with the bottom I ofa vault stacked thereon.

The upper edges of the side walls 2 and end 40 walls 3 are rabbetedalong their outer sides, as at 9, and the lid 4 is flanged on the underside thereof and around its edges, as indicated at H], to fit into therabbet 9. Inwardly of the rabbet 9, the side walls 2 and end walls 3 aregrooved in the top edge thereof, as at ll and the lid 4 is provided inthe under side thereof with a continuous groove 12 adapted to mate withthe groove II when said lid is applied. The grooves Hand l2 are designedto receive a suitable seallng material, shown at l2, introduced thereinunder pressure, as from a pressure-type gun. For

introducing such sealing material into said grooves ll and i2 threadednipples, as at H, are provided in the sides and ends of the lid 4 whichopen into ducts, as at l4, extending to the groove H2, in a downwardlyinclined direction. 5

As shown at l5 in Figure 4, the inside of the described vault may belined with sheet metal preferably copper.

In the use of the described invention, the lid 3 is first sealed byinjection into the grooves ll 10 and I2, the sealing material introducedtherein in the manner described. The grave l6 is lined on the bottomthereof with a concrete slab ll. A plurality of vaults may then bestacked on the slab I! with the lid 4 of the subjacent vault nest- 16ing in the bottom I of the upper vault. In this position, as will beclear, the vaults are arranged in interlocking relation against relativedisplacement and by virtue of this feature a large number of vaults maybe so stacked and the stack 20 balanced.

If desired studs 18 may be provided on the bottom I of the vault forsupporting the coffin IS in a position clear of said bottom. Preferablythe entire vault is molded in two parts such as de- 25 scribed.

My invention will, it is believed, be readily understood from theforegoing without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is sus- 3Q ceptible ofmodification in details other than as disclosed herein and right isreserved to all such modifications falling within the scope of thesubjoined claimh What I claim is:

A burial vault comprising a casing having sides and ends, and a lid forclosing the casing, and means to seal said lid comprising a dependingedge flange extending around the lid, the sides and ends of the casinghaving an external edge rabbet therein for receiving said flange, saidlid having a groove extending around the bottom face thereof and thecasing having a groove extending around the tops of the sides and endsthereof mating with the groove in said lid, and a sealing medium in saidgrooves, the lid being provided with ducts extending inwardly from theedge thereof and downwardly to the groove thereof for introducing thesealing medium under pressure into said grooves.

EUGENE HOPKINS.

